The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Reviewer Recommends (November 23rd, 2025)

This series will highlight my weekly journey through previously released films, whether they are rewatches for me or new discoveries. Here are my picks:     

Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979)

What did Werner Herzog bring to his interpretation of this classic vampire story? Nosferatu the Vampyre is a haunting film that leans heavily into the dark, gothic trappings of Bram Stoker’s original story. There is a visceral nature to Herzog film that captures the eerie and disturbing nature of this story. The music from Florian Fricke and Popol Vuh accentuates the film well with the ominous nature of the score. Klaus Kinski is creepy with his presentation of Dracula, and the make-up work is quite impressive. Isabelle Adjani is powerful in her lustful and vulnerable turn as Lucy Harker. Nosferatu the Vampyre sits as one of three great versions of the Nosferatu twist on Stoker’s novel. Herzog brings all the atmospheric dread needed to make this haunting experience work.

The Pirate (1948)

How long will you watch Gene Kelly just being attractive and dancing? If you want plenty of that, look no further than Vicente Minnelli’s The Pirate. This swashbuckling romp is stuffed to the gills with dancing and singing from the two impressive leads, Kelly and Judy Garland. There are plenty of shining moments for Kelly with his singing and dance routine. “Be a Clown” and “Mack the Black” stand out well amongst consistently effective and entertaining. The production design, costumes, hairstyling, and editing is all vibrant and quite impressive. Minnelli delivers quite the high energy, sexy, fast-paced, and tells a fun story of mistaken identity, seduction, and performance. This is a big, bold, vibrant film with that classic Old Hollywood energy. Check out this swashbuckling good time.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966)

What is the most iconic and influential spaghetti western of all time? Sergio Leone is the most renowned creator of this type of western that leans into hype violence, overly exaggerated elements, and morally grey protagonists. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is the crowning achievement of Leone’s career and this subgenre of western. The trio of Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, and Eli Wallach make for compelling, engaging, and entertaining leads to anchor this sprawling western epic. This adventure spans the west as this trio seeks out a treasure buried in a cemetery. The film explores the American Civil War as an intriguing backdrop. There are other elements that Leone explores through Wallach’s Tuco and his traumatic past. The final 20 minutes of this film also delivers some of the most amazing filmmaking put to film. The final standoff in the cemetery is a master class in cinematography, editing, tension, physical acting, and music. Ennio Morricone created one of the greatest scores of all time. This is THE western and worth the watch.

Murder! (1930)

What is the type of film that Alfred Hitchcock is most well versed in? Thriller! Back in 1930, he had a few films that dove into this crime thriller space including Murder! This is a twisted tale of murder, mystery, and systems of justice. A young performer is found in possession of the murder weapon right next to the dead body of her colleague. What Hitchcock presents is a mix of courtroom drama, mystery, and thrills. Hitchcock finds space to explore his knack for dynamic filmmaking with how he maneuvers the camera in the more quiet and intense moments. Still limited by the new sound aspects of film, Hitchcock is still able to engage the audience in more talk-filled moments. This mystery all leads to quite the thrilling, dark, and shocking finale. An early sound effort from Hitchcock still has enough to engage 95 years later.